XX: Spiritual Apostasy:The Church’s

End-Times Spiritual ConditionAs Opposed To An Event with spiritual implications,

a la II Thess 2

XX: Spiritual Apostasy:The Church’s

End-Times ConditionAs Opposed To An Event,

A La II Thess 2

XX: Spiritual Apostasy:The Church’s

End-Times ConditionAs Opposed To An Event,

A La II Thess 2

On the threshold of the final spiritual battle,some of the troops go AWOL!

Could I turn out to be one of them?

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Presentation Array’s Table of Contents

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Statement of Fact:1 Timothy 4:1-3

1. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2. by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3. men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

Statement of Fact:1 Timothy 4:1-3

1. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some willfall away

from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2. by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3. men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

The phrase ‘fall away’ comes from the Greek word APOSTASY.

Statement of Fact:1 Timothy 4:1-3

1. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some willfall away from the faith,

paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2. by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3. men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

Christians use the phrase ‘fall away from the faith’ to mean the technical more term “APOSTASY”. Apostasy indicates a believer leaving his faith.

Statement of Fact:1 Timothy 4:1-3

This passage . . .This word, ‘apostasy’ . . .

forms the basis for the popular understandingthat on the threshold of the Tribulation,

the Church experiences a significant worsening of character:

a falling away or an apostasy

of some of its fellowship!

The Look of Apostasy:

2 Timothy 4

1. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2. preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4. and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Apostasy’s Symptoms: 2 Timothy 4

1. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2. preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4. and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Apostasy’s symptoms:

Apostasy: A Pastor’s Proper Response

1. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2. preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4. and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Proper Response to Apostasy:

Apostasy: Rampant Selfishness

1. But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3. unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4. treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5. holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

You know you’re in danger if this describes you!

Apostasy’s Motive:3. Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4.and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” II Peter 3:3,4

The Apostate wants to deny accountability in order to promote a life of lust and self-interest.

. . . to delicate flowers at the first killing frost?

. . . to poorly trained, uncommitted soldiers when a battle’s first shots ring out?

. . . to the casual deer hunter towards late afternoon?

. . . to the holders of mere opinion when conviction of belief is called for?

Think About It-What Happens

. . . to delicate flowers at the first killing frost?

. . . to poorly trained, uncommitted soldiers when a battle’s first shots ring out?

. . . to the casual deer hunter towards late afternoon?

. . . to the holders of mere opinion when conviction of belief is called for?

Think About It-What Happens

WILT . . .

RUN OFF . . .

TURN BACK . . .

CAVE IN . . .

Sealed in the Spirit, Body of Christ Christians?

Casual christians-in-name-only (KINOS)?

Full-bore pagans who’ve never SEEN a church?

Christian wannabees, undiscipled newbies or other easily confused seekers?

Hmmmmmmmmmm . . . . . . .

Think About It: Who ARE these apostates?

Sealed in the Spirit, Body of Christ Christians?

Casual christians-in-name-only (KINOS)?

Full-bore pagans who’ve never SEEN a church?

Christian wannabees, undiscipled newbies or other easily confused seekers?

Hmmmmmmmmmm . . . . . . .

Think About It: Who ARE these apostates?

COULD I BE AN APOSTATE?

Should we fear The Apostasy or say good riddance to false fellows and noncombatants?

NEXT:

XXI: SALVATION:

A companion piece to XX, which has begged the question:

“Can I lose my salvation and turn into an apostate??

I’ll tackle that one next.Search the Table of Contents for Other Offerings In This Series